It's Lucky's Turn!

**Lucky has a family!!**


Handsome Lucky turns 14 this summer, and will not be able to be adopted after that point. He has two very close friends who have been matched with families, and now it's HIS turn to be matched!

Lucky is a Hep B carrier, but is otherwise perfectly healthy. He is now waiting on the shared list, and being advocated for by WACAP. They are offering a $4200 reduction in fees, and Lucky's orphanage fee has also been waived...for a $9600 reduction in fees!!
Let's get Lucky that family he so desperately needs!

The Miracle of Milo

**Updated and now "New & Improved" with more MILO!**

That adorable little man up there (who is about to make a cell phone call!) is Milo. Milo is 3 years old, and it is truly a miracle that he is alive today! Milo has had 3 surgeries in his young life: one for his heart, one for anal atresia, and one for a hernia. Here is what a caregiver says about him:

That child’s life is a true miracle.  He has been so close to death on several occasions it is amazing that he is still alive.  God must have big plans for him!

I hope he can find a family soon. He’s so sweet, so smart and so CUTE!

Milo is currently living in the baby home at China Little Flower, and will soon be moved to a group foster home. He is a fighter, and there must be a family out there looking for a little HERO!

Taking his sorting SERIOUSLY.

"Hey Mom & Dad: when 'ya gonna come and get me??"

All About Chip

You may remember my post about Chip HERE. At that time, Chip's file had never been translated so we could only imagine what his personality was like.

Well, thanks to two wonderful women who are *invaluable* to me (Tina and Lee!!), we now have a glimpse into Chip's background and his life up to now.

His official diagnosis is "Right lower limb disability". They did a head CT, which came back completely normal. They also took x-rays of his knees and pelvis. While his right knee is normal, his right pelvis is "asymmetrical" and his right leg bones  "develop smaller" than his left. There are 3 pictures of his legs in his file.   For privacy reasons, I am not including them (think nakey pics!). I had to chuckle when I read that on admission, he was "a little bit fat"!

Here is just SOME of the things Chip's caregivers had to say about him (believe me, they had a LOT to say!):

"Chip" gets along with other children very well in the institute. 

His character is outgoing.

He likes to play the games and learn with other children. 

He loves to help teachers to do things what he can afford.

He recognizes simple numbers and Chinese PinYin. 

He can do some simple dance. He memorize poem (Three Character Classic) 

Here is what his caregivers said when asked how Chip feels about being adopted:

As a result after asking "Chip", he is willing to be adopted by foreigners. He is willing to have his own real meaning of home. 

It's about time Chip learned the real meaning of HOME. Who gets to be the lucky family to teach him?

Quinn- Gorgeous 5 year old Boy! *Agency Listing*

This is the COMPLETELY handsome Quinn:

He will be 6 years old in April, and is deaf. He does wear a hearing aid, so the extent of his hearing loss will need to be investigated. 

Quinn is said to be very smart, and is watchful of his teachers and cargivers' facial expressions to know what to do. He loves legos, cartoons and books.

Just look at that handsome face!!
Wouldn't it be wonderful if Quinn got what he's always wanted for his 6th birthday--A FAMILY??
Quinn is currently listed with Heartsent: www.bringinghopetochildren.org
Email Dick Graham at iaap@iaapadoption.com for more information on adorable Quinn!

Ming and Guang-- Foster Brothers Waiting For Families

These two foster brothers have waited long enough for their turns to be adopted!

Guang, age 12

Ming, age 12

Both boys will turn 13 this year. And both boys have watched their friends  be adopted  one by one.

Guang is visually impaired, and is said to have sensitivity to light. He is  always happy and smiling, and is an AMAZING piano player!! What a talented young guy he is!

Ming has a repaired cleft lip and optic nerve atrophy.  

He needs glasses for poor vision, but his eyesight has been unchanged in the last 3 years. He loves playing sports, and has many friends at school. Evidently he plays a mean recorder too!!

Both boys live in a wonderful group foster home, and are just waiting to blossom in their own forever families.

Nick and Tim: BFFs

Remember Nick (NingNing), the adorable 8 year old boy that I posted about here the other day?

Well, meet his best friend forever: Tim!!

Don't they look like they could be brothers??? Both boys are 8 years old, and both are on the shared list...from the same orphanage. Nick has apparently mild cerebral palsy, affecting only his legs. And Tim has a post operative "inversive left foot", under-developed muscles (in that leg??) and delays. 

Wouldn't it be wonderful if both boys either joined the same family, or were adopted by two nearby families? They would surely bring tons of love and laughter to some lucky people:)

Precious LuLu

Take a look at precious LuLu! She is 16 months old, and in Jiangxi Province. She was originally a NSN referral, in early 2011. In July of 2011, she received an abnormal CT scan (slightly less white matter) and tested at a 2 month old level (at 8.5 months old). 

LuLu is described as timid, active, restless, and extroverted. She likes to listen to music and loves the color red. 

She is very attached to her caregiver. The orphanage staff hope that LuLu can grow up "happily without sorrow and anxiety". A family would sure help with that!

Are you the family to help ease LuLu's fears? She's waiting for you....

Sweet Susie

Sweet Susie just turned 8, and  is still waiting for her forever family. Originally listed as having repaired ptosis, she was matched with a family in late 2005. In January 2006, after spending 2 days with the adoptive family, she was sent back to the orphanage due to concerns that Susie may have neurofibromatosis. She has multiple cafe au lait spots all over her body.

 In July of 2009 a diagnosis of "neurofibroma?" was placed in her file. And yes, the question mark was included in the diagnosis. A developmental test was also done, and even though the tester reported "The patient was not cooperative in test", she was diagnosed as having "slight retarded development". 

Susie is described as polite and helpful. She loves to sing and listen to music. Susie struggles in school, and it takes her a while to learn new things, especially math. She attends a regular school, with children her own age. 
She is the closest to her foster mother, who she has lived with since 2008. 
For more information on Neurofibromatosis, click here.
Once you've read up on it, ask yourself if Susie could be YOUR daughter!

Nick, aka NingNing

There are a lot of unknowns regarding our children born in China. Few of us adoptive parents know our child's true date of birth, let alone their birth name. Nick's future family will know both. Nick was left outside the gate of an orphanage, with a note giving his birth name and date of birth. He was just over a year old at that time.

Now age 8, Nick has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, mainly affecting his legs. His head CT came back normal. Nick can walk steadily, and go up and down stairs unassisted.

Nick is described as extroverted, with a ready smile. He is said to be clever, loves music and playing with blocks. He also loves to take toys apart to see how they work.

Nick gets along very well with other children, and is "adored by everyone here".

Nick is waiting for his forever family to adore him too!!! Is it you??

Easton and Caroline--Double the Cuteness!!

**Update 2/15** Easton has a family!! Congratulations to the lucky family who has sent LOI for him:)
Now we just need to find Caroline's family!


I am doubling-up the cuteness by posting about two super-cute toddlers who wait for families.

Caroline

Easton is 2 years old, and Caroline is 16 months old.

Both children have a condition known as Epidermolysis Bullosa, 

commonly known as EB. Children with EB have been nicknamed 

"Butterfly Children", because of how delicate their skin is. Pressure 

or friction on most areas of their skin quickly causes blisters and 

sloughing of the skin.

Meet Easton & Caroline:

   

Easton


Bandaging of the affected areas helps to minimize
damage, and decreases the risk of infection.

Caroline

Easton

Children with EB have normal cognitive abilities.  As long as
precautions are taken, EB kids can do anything their peers can!

Easton!


There is currently no cure for EB, although there
are studies being done with bone marrow transplants.
Treatment for EB children includes wound care, bandaging
and careful monitoring of their surroundings.

Caroline!


EB kids can be hugged (gently!), kissed and played with!
They can play outdoors, go to theme parks and even go swimming!!

Easton

If you would like to learn more about Easton & Caroline, email me at amynurse2000@yahoo.com. For more information on EB, visit these sites: 

http://www.ebkids.org/about/index.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidermolysis_bullosa

http://www.debra-international.org/

http://ebfriends.ning.com/

They Are Still Waiting! -Part Two

Here is more of that list I told you about in this post. These children were on the shared list back when my daughter was, in June of 2009. They are still on the shared list right now! Is one of them your child?

PEACHY FEMALE    2007-12-29   Talantrophia (facial deformity)

JUNNER  MALE     2000-10-27   Postoperative meningocele; incontinence of feces and urine

LORDER  MALE    2004-07-10  Postoperative deformity of genitalia (translocation of penis and scrotum, clubbed penis); post operative inguinal hernia; shift anal

LUKA    MALE    2001-12-09   Hemiplegic cerebral palsy

HALENDA  FEMALE  2004-01-05  Epilepsy

IRISHA   FEMALE  2003-11-08  Postoperative meningocele (deformity of both lower limbs, incontinence of feces and urine)

MARDER   MALE   2000-04-09   Convulsive cerebral palsy

MANDER   MALE   2006-03-01   Convulsive cerebral palsy

PALM  MALE   2003-10-04  postoperative equinovarus, speaking inarticulately, incontinence of feces and urine

MELVER  MALE     2006-03-20  Valgus deformity of left lower limb

LENNA   FEMALE   2004-04-11   Cerebral palsy, concomitant esotropia

PAKET  MALE     2006-02-05    Postoperative dropsy of brain

SIMA  FEMALE    2007-10-19   Congenital glaucoma of both eyes: postoperation

PETERA  MALE    2005-03-03   Tumor in left eye socket

RAND   MALE     2007-07-17    DST surgery

POSTER  MALE   2004-04-13   Absense of penis and left testicle

BOYDER MALE   2006-10-01    Sequelae of cerebral palsy

AMMA   FEMALE  2006-07-15   Cerebral palsy

RACHA  FEMALE  1999-12-03   Intellectual development delay

YAKER  MALE  2007-02-26   Congenital deformity of spine

YUNNER MALE  2007-07-01   Operation of Ventricular shunt and lysis of spinal cord, CHD (ASD), hydronephrosis of left kidney, deformity of costal bone of vertebral comumn, left femur fracture

Lucas Jude

This is adorable Lucas Jude:

He just turned 2 last month. Lucas Jude is listed as having exopthalmos and hypoplasia of the skull. He may have a cranio-facial syndrome. 

The doctors and orphanage director are only monitoring LJ's condition right now. They have stated that because the surgery to repair his skull and eyes is risky, combined with their feeling that he "has no long life", they say that "surgery makes little sense".  My fellow advocates and I are working toward getting LJ the help that he needs, but in the meantime, he still waits for his forever family. 

Lucas Jude is described as a restless and "obstinate" baby, with a "brilliant smile". He can share that brilliant smile and make a difference in this world, if only given the chance.

Who will give him that chance?

**if anyone has experience with cranio-facial anomalies, or knows of a cranio-facial doctor who can review Lucas Jude's file...PLEASE email me at amynurse2000@yahoo.com ASAP! Thank you!

The Emotional Roller Coaster That IS Advocacy

I started my journey as an advocate back in the Summer of 2009, while waiting to bring my daughter home from China. Little did I know then what a roller coaster of emotions lie ahead for me! 
To truly advocate for China's orphans, one has to feel a connection with each and every child whose voice they become. That connection becomes stronger the longer that a child waits and is advocated for. And when a child is finally matched with their forever family, there is a rush of emotions that come over us advocates that cannot be described. It is bitter-sweet, and there is nothing quite like it.
Yesterday I learned that "Gwen", a little girl I had advocated for since late 2010, had lost her battle with cancer and other health issues. Gwen, with the twinkle in her big eyes, is now at peace. I feel like a piece of my heart is gone....because it is. 
Tonight I learned that "Nancy", another little girl I have advocated for since 2010, has a new Mommy and Daddy waiting for her! Nancy's pixie-like face and bright smile will bring joy to her new family for sure!  Nancy is now Naomie Opal...a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. 
And so it goes: the ebb and flow of emotions that is advocacy. I've got my seatbelt on, and I'm not going anywhere!

Kaiya

Kaiya just turned 8 years old last month. Her paperwork was originally prepared in October of 2004, when Kaiya was just 8 months old:

Isn't she cute?!

Kaiya has mild cerebral palsy, which mainly affects her right hand. She uses her left hand to do almost everything. Kaiya had surgery at a year old to help her right foot to walk better. She walks well, just needs to be reminded to walk "heel to toe" with her right foot. 

Kaiya attends school, and she is developmentally at the same level as her peers. Her best subject is Chinese. Kaiya is described as cheerful, and she absolutely loves the Pleasant Goat and Big Wolf cartoon. Her favorite toy is a Pleasant Goat doll.

Where are her Mommy & Daddy? She has waited SO long for you!!

Oliver

**Update: Oliver's orphanage has asked us to pull out all the stops to find Oliver's forever family. He has until June to be adopted...just 4 months from now!! WACAP is offering the following: 

There is up to $9500 in financial aid available (including a $4200 Promise Child grant for eligible families for this adoption and the possibility of up to $5300 in fee waivers).

Oliver WANTS a family of his own! Please spread the word before his time is up!

This handsome young man is Oliver. Oliver will turn 14 years old in June, and is still waiting for his forever family. He WANTS to be adopted! He WANTS siblings! He is extremely athletic, and his dream is to someday become a professional athlete or coach. Oliver has many close friends, and gets along well with children of all ages. He has had surgeries for cleft lip/palate. Is he your son??

Team Kate!

Please watch this video of Kate, who has VERY little time left to find a family. Her orphanage has agreed to waive the orphanage donation fee for her adoption!
Kate turns 14 on March 18th. Let's make this her best birthday yet!